The annual Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show sets the standard for innovation and learning. Farmers and consultants from every facet of eco-farming come together to share their experience and expertise. Attend the non-stop event, learn the latest in cutting-edge technology and methods, and return home ready to make your farming operation the best it can be.

Here are some of the activities you can look forward to . . .

Eco-Ag U Advanced Learning Workshops

Optional, intensive courses by eco-farming’s top consultants, practitioners and thinkers. NEW THIS YEAR: You can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by attending Eco-Ag U workshops!

Seminars

Hear presentations by some of the world’s leading authorities and practitioners of ecological agriculture ─ successful large-scale farmers, leading consultants and cutting-edge scientists. Ask them questions specific to your needs and your farm.

Eco-Consultants’ Halls

Special rooms are dedicated to eco-consultants and staffed throughout the day by some of the leading advisors in eco-agriculture. Be prepared to get answers by bringing your soil audits, yield data, herd health records, etc.

Trade Show

The exhibitors at the Acres U.S.A. Eco-Ag Conference are some of the top innovators in agriculture. Find solutions for farming at a higher level from the almost 100 companies in this remarkable exhibition.

Texas has the largest population of Hispanic farmers and ranchers of any state in the country.

And in December, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer that community a sustainable-agriculture conference of Hispanic agriculture professionals.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s successful inaugural Texas Hispanic Farmer and Rancher Conference, this year’s event will bring together the Hispanic farming community, the agriculture industry, advocates for sustainability, and agribusinesses for two days of workshops, networking, and learning from fellow farmers.

It will be held December 6 and December 7 at the Casa de Palmas Hotel in McAllen, Texas.

The conference’s workshops will be conducted by experts in all major agricultural industries and will address important issues affecting farmers today, such as business planning, soil health, marketing, and access to resources for profitable production.

Mark your calendars for the conference! The cost is $25 per person, and a discounted rate of $40 is available for married couples or domestic partners.

Scholarships in the amount of up to $250 are available to help cover the cost of travel and lodging. Applications for those scholarships close November 16.

Information on applying for the scholarships, registration, workshop topics, and speakers is available at https://texashispanic.ncat.org/register.php

There is also information on the site about opportunities available for businesses, agencies, and other organizations to help sponsor the conference or present exhibits.

For more information, contact NCAT specialists Robert Maggiani or Kara Kroeger at robertm@ncat.org or karak@ncat.org. Or call at 866-319-1669.

Prescribed fire is a natural process in the Southern Great Plains, where the landscape evolved under fire and grazing. Fire can improve wildlife habitat, reduce woody plants, remove thatch, and improve forage quality and quantity for livestock.

During this course, you will learn about fire behavior and plant response to burning during the dormant season. You will also learn about prescribed burn plans, fireguards, weather parameters, equipment, labor and contingency plans among other topics.

The most important way to safely burn is to gain experience conducting burns. If weather parameters are within prescription during the field day, we will attempt multiple burns to give you real experience conducting prescribed fire management.

What You Will Learn:

How weather impacts fire behavior

How to manage fuel loads and types

Laws and regulations for prescribed fire

The type of equipment and labor needed for a burn

How prescribed fire impacts wildlife and grazing lands

The types and appropriateness of fireguards

How to plan smoke management

The difference between growing-season burns and dormant-season burns

How to design and implement a safe prescribed fire

The role and importance of prescribed burn associations

How You Will Learn:

Classroom discussion

In-field discussion

Hands-on demonstration, weather-permitting

Who Should Attend:

Land managers interested in or new to prescribed fire

Volunteer firefighters

How to Prepare:

Wear cotton or fire-resistant long pants and long-sleeved shirt

Wear leather boots

Bring a hat and gloves

For more information or to register, visit the field day webpage or contact the Noble Research Institute at 580-223-5810.

Pre-Conference courses: January 23–24, 2019 General Conference: January 25–26, 2019

Little Rock, located between the fertile Delta and the beautiful Ozarks, is a growing hot-spot for the local foods movement and is a natural fit for Southern SAWG’s annual conference.

The SSAWG conference provides a forum to learn about sustainable farming techniques and marketing strategies, community food systems, and federal farm policies and programs that promote sustainable agriculture. This event also provides producers, researchers, information providers, concerned consumers, and community organizers the opportunity to build networks, strengthen alliances, and celebrate the achievements of Southern sustainable farmers.

The conference is loaded with practical information tailored for those in the South producing organic and sustainable food on a commercial scale and for those in the region working to improve local food systems. All conference sessions, pre-conference courses, and field trips will be led by successful producers and well-respected educators and organizers from around the region with extensive knowledge and, more importantly, practical experience.